CHAPTER 9: Red Diamond Jewelry

"Happy birthday, little Avy!" Duchess Blue immediately walked her way towards me. The next thing I know is when she carried me in her arms, kissed me, and greeted me. She turned to Hana who's beside me earlier and pinched her cheeks. This woman really likes kids.

"I know you love to have a daughter, wife. But, don't be like that to Hana and Avy here. You can't simply carry a child in your arms without her parents' permission." I turned my attention to Duke Blue who I never knew that he's already here beside the duchess. He's fast. He thought his wife would be creating a scene so he followed right away to his wife. Hoho!

"Why not? Hana is my niece and Avy is my son's fiancee," the duchess retorted. Fiancee! Why was I not informed about this? And why, of all people, that whiskey was chosen to be my fiancee? Am I always going to be shocked by the information I got tonight? Ugh. And here I am, thinking that I prepared to face these all. *facepalm*

"Are you okay, little Avy?" the duchess rubbed my back because I was choked with my saliva when I got the new information.

"Ahm (I'm) ohkay." Of course, that's a lie! Who would be okay with this news!

"You're so cute, Avy. I want to bring you home with Hana." the duchess said and pinched my cheeks. I cringed at the pain. Ow! It hurts! Hana looked at me with the same look I have. Hana, I feel you too.

"Lower your voice, Hennessy. The nobles here have ears too. The supposed engagement will be announced on the coming-of-age of Avy." The duke shushed her wife. The duchess's name is Hennessy? Pfftt. What did I tell you guys! *laughs*

It never crossed my mind that these people have a tradition of arranging a marriage between two families. Aisht! The coming-of-age here is 15 years old, from what I got from the old Avyana's memories. I still have 14 more years to plan for making this engagement never push through.

"I know we agreed with that arrangement, but if my daughter likes someone, the engagement will never push through," said my mom whom I didn't realize followed the Blues here. I would be lying if I said I was not moved by her words. That really means to me.

"Yes, I know, Alice. I'm planning to make Avy and Jack close so they could create a bond. Avy will come to like Jack. It's not an issue for Jack here because he's been staring at your daughter since I approached her." I looked at the duchess who looked at his son like she's teasing him. Tch. You're wrong, Duchess. He's staring at me because he has angry issues with me. That brat!

"Don't expose your son, Hennessy. Look at him embarrassed." Instead of helping his son, the duke teases him more. Poor, boy. I looked down at the boy who stood between his father and mother and I was surprised when our eyes met. He started to turn red again when he realized that we're staring at each other. I just realized that I was just being silly accusing him of being angry with me. I couldn't even think of any reason for him to get angry with me. So, does that mean, he likes me? Pffftt. It doesn't seem to be like that. Maybe he has a fever.

"Jack, don't be rude. Introduce yourself to this young lady." I heard the duchess reprimand his son. I saw him step forward, even if his face is red, and slightly bowed his head. Hehe! I couldn't deny that he's cute.

"Happy birthday, Lady Avyana Red. I'm Jack Daniel Blue. It was nice to meet you." He looked at me and his face still red. I'm starting to worry about his red face.

"Ahm(I'm) Yana. Thank you fow coming to mah (my) biwday(birthday)." I said struggling to speak. The next thing I knew, I was rained with kisses with Duchess Blue who still carried me in her arms. She's carrying me for half an hour now. Oh, I guess she's not planning to get me down anytime now.

"You're so cute, Avy. Can I bring you home, please?" After she said that, I turned my attention to my father who's now beside my mother, and faking a cough to catch their attention. That's right, dad. Take me away from this woman, please. *whines*

"I think my little Avy wants me to carry her. Do you mind if I get my daughter back?" my dad said with a kind smile yet holds a threat. I felt like he's about to burst because he endured his feelings for a while now. He didn't like to share me with my brothers, what more to the other people.

I was immediately carried back to my father. I felt his grip on me tightened. "I think it's time for my daughter to rest. She's tired," my father said with a tenacious look. No one can say no to that. I just heard the Blues chuckled. I and my father started to walk away from the crowd and into my room. I know that it's rude of us to leave early, but who could oppose the great Duke Red? Hoho! This is a kind of advantage for me. I won't be bullied by the other nobles.

Just as we went a little far from our function hall, the big doors suddenly opened and it made my father stopped from walking. We turned to see the new guests.

"His Majesty, King Gold, Her Majesty, Queen Gold, and the royal princes and princesses of Kulay Kingdom." I know Golds are the royals here. But, I didn't know about the prince and princesses of this kingdom. The old Avyana seldomly attended banquets, but she's famous for being a villainess. She didn't cross paths with the princes and princesses. Hmm. I guess it's time to go back. I wanna know the prince and princesses.

"I'm sorry, Avy. I guess I can't save you this time." My father looked at me with an apologetic smile. I smiled back at him. I know that you're only doing that for my sake, dad.

We walked back to the function hall to greet the royal family. Even if my family is so powerful, we still are the subjects of the royal family.

All the nobles, including my family, bowed and curtsied in front of the royal family. I saw them with their attendants coming our way. Well, I and Hana were the only ones who didn't bow. One-year-old kids were not yet taught proper etiquette, so I'll use that to my advantage and stare at them. There are 4 princes and 2 princesses. Two of the princes and the first princess have the same golden hair that radiates brightly and striking blue eyes that you couldn't help but stare at those. The other 2 princes have golden hair and pink eyes. Eh? *confused* And the remaining one has gold hair and orange eyes. Why did they have different eye colors? The queen has blue hair and orange eyes that obviously belong to the Blue ducal family. Another relative of Duke Blue, I'm sure. But, was there a previous queen before this current queen now? Two of the princes have pink eyes. It seems like they have a Pink bloodline. Is the Royal family, the Pinks and the Blues are related to each other? If I guessed it right, then they're a powerful trio! So, maybe that's why the powerful Red ducal family got executed in the past. They've teamed up.

"Lift your heads." The authoritative voice of the King rung out. As if it's scripted, they all lifted their bowed heads in unison. The king looked at my father, then my mother, my brothers, and then finally, me. He softly smiled at me then looked back at father again. The queen also smiled at us but I frowned at it. The smile she just gave us felt off. It felt fake. Why the heck was that?

"Greetings, Your Majesties," dad, mom, the Pinks, and the Blues greet them. The queen covered her mouth with her fan and looked at us like we're inferior to her, especially to my mother. She's looking at her like she doesn't belong here. What the f*ck is wrong with this woman? Is it because my mom came from a baron family? How dare she!

"Drop your formalities, friends. This is not a court meeting. It's a celebration for little Avy's birthday today. Let's just enjoy," the king chuckled. Before the men separate from the women, I called out for the king.

"Uncow(Uncle)!" I opened my arms wide gesturing for him to carry me. Hehe! I need to take advantage of me being an innocent kid. *smirk* I need to gain his favor. He's the only one who can control the queen. Hoho!

My dad and mom widen their eyes because they're shocked by my actions. The Pinks' and the princes' and princesses' reactions were the same as my mom and dad's. The Blues just laughed at it. I know this is disrespectful but I got the feeling that this will be okay. Hehe!

"Forgive me, Your majesty. I didn't properly discipline my child. Please punish me accordingly," my dad knelt on the ground and bowed his head. I saw the king just laughed and ordered my dad to stand up. *sigh* I was nervous for about a second there.

"Nonsense. I just told you to drop your formalities here. What's wrong if I'm little Avy's uncle?" he chuckled. "Come here, little Avy. Up we go!" he carried me and that made the queen widen her eyes. She glared at me, but I just sweetly smiled at her.

"Happy birthday, sweet little Avy. I want to personally give you your present." The king then called his servant to bring out the gift he would give me. I wonder what it is. "Here it is. Open it." I received a small red box. This is obviously a piece of jewelry. But, I wonder what jewelry is this. I opened the cover and there in my sight a red diamond necklace and a set of red diamond earrings. Wow! How much would it cost if I sell these? But, wait. Why are these familiar to me? It's not in the old Avyana's memories, but mine's. Did I saw this on Earth?

I could hear the gasps of the people who saw the scene happening. My mom and dad were stunned. Were these some heirloom or what?

"These pieces of jewelry have very deep meaning, little Avy. The High Priest advised me to give it to you. Take care of these. You'll know the meaning of these in the future." He smiled at me, but there's a hint of worry in his smile. What the heck are these pieces of jewelry? Are these cursed or these could bring good luck to me?

Even if I'm not looking at the queen, I could feel her piercing gaze at me. Tch. Jealous b*tch.

"Thank yow uncow." I gratefully smiled at the king who already puts me down. He just patted my head and call my father, Duke Blue and Marquess Pink to have a chat.

Just when I walked back to my mother, the doors opened again.

"His Holiness, High Priest Johnson White, and his heir, Dove White."